Wednesday, August 7

The Famine Of These End Times

It is no secret that we are now living in the end generation. It is written for us in Matthew 24:32. God didn't say maybe we should learn it, He said to learn it! In 1948, Israel became a Nation and so began the final generation. This means that there will be at least one person still living that was born in 1948 when Christ returns at the Second Advent. But what about the famine spoken of in Amos 8:11?

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:

We don't have to search long before we see that this is a prophecy that is unfolding before our very eyes. There is no truth to be found. Not in the media, not in organizations and certainly not in our government. In fact, people are coming out of the woodwork in droves, all hell bent on removing God from any and everything. Where can any of us go to find truth? Even the mega churches are too busy trying to get more money from their congregation to actually teach anything about God.

God told us that if we wanted to believe the lies, then He would help us out. In 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12:

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

There is a lot of pleasure in unrighteousness right now. Gays are running rampant, suing every company they can for discrimination. Companies are being forced to offer the abortion pill RU486. Everywhere we look, it is clear to see that those who hate God are out in force and yelling at the top of their lungs. It seems like that is all we can hear. But God has a plan and it is beautiful.

First He told us to be still and know that He is God. This means to take quiet time to reflect upon Him and His work. Turn off the TV and the computer. Sit quietly and reflect upon all the work He has made and that He will continue to make. Know within your soul that He is your Kinsman Redeemer and that He will call His righteous home when the time comes. Also take comfort in knowing that the Godless are not winning. It is written in an acrostic in Psalms. Yes, it's long, but... isn't God worth the time?

PSALM 37

A Psalm of David.

(This is an acrostic Psalm. This Psalm tells us what happens to the wicked concerning hell.)

1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

(It is a waste of time to get angry at those who seem to get ahead in this life by doing evil. We are not to be envious of them because they have their judgment coming.)

2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

(A green herb is young vegetation. Anytime you cut off an herb to soon, it will dry up and wither into nothing. What happens to the grass clippings that have been cast aside by the mower? They dry up into nothing.)

3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

(The word ‘verily” in the Hebrew is ‘emuwnah and means truth. Truth is what we will be fed if we trust in the Lord and do what is right to the best of our ability. Truth is always fed to us from God’s word.)

4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

(Notice there is a condition here. Delight yourself in the Lord. This means that our will should become as one with God’s will. We should never want for something or ask for something that is against God’s will. Always ask that His will be done.)

5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

(The word “commit” in the Hebrew is galal and means to roll your burden over to the Lord. See Jeremiah chapter 23. God comes down pretty hard on those who say that God has placed a burden on them. We aren’t to say that. Satan and the world is what places burdens upon us. We are to give Him our burdens.)

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

(If you are able to give over your burdens to God, then just as sure as the morning light shines and as sure as noon follows the morning, God will take care of all of our needs.)

7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

(This is the first of three unique lines that make up the acrostic in this Psalm. Don’t worry about those who are getting ahead in this life by doing wrong. God is keeping track of all things done. They will not prosper when it really counts.)

8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

(Don’t let the evil doers get under your skin to the point where you can’t think properly yourself. There is nothing wrong with having righteous indignation but don’t let it consume you.)

9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

(The word earth is land. It is all the land of the earth. The wicked will not even be around.)

10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

(Everything is on God’s timeframe. When we consider the eternity, it really is only a little while. It may seem like an eternity while we are here in the flesh, but it really is only a moment compared to eternity.)

11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

(The meek are the humble. Put your rest in the Lord and have true peace of mind.)

12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

(Plotteth means to carry out evil against the just. Gnasheth upon him means actual anger against the just. Those who hate God will hate you for loving Him.)

13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

(As the heathen rage, they are nothing but idiots. God laughs at them because He knows the outcome. He knows what will happen those who hate Him.)

14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.

(See Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39. They will take up weapons during the battles of Hamon-gog and armegeddon. These are God’s battles and we know who wins.)

15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

(In Ezekiel chapter 38, God said He will put hooks in their jaws and swing them around. These battles will last no more than 5 minutes. Why? Because it is God who is in control and going into battle.)

16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

(See Revelation 2:9. Christ is speaking to the church and tells them that while He knows their poverty, they are rich. When you have God’s truth, you are rich. Far more wealthy than any amount of money.)

17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

(God has affection for the upright. The inheritance of the just is everything that belongs to God.)

19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

(The evil time is the end times. The famine of the end times is not for food but for hearing the true word of God.)

20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

(This is the second of three unique lines in this acrostic Psalm.Remember that the fat was not to be eaten by man, it belongs to God. When you cook an animal on an open spit, as it turns around, the fat begins to melt and as it does, it drips. When it hits the fire, it makes a hiss and then it is gone forever. This is what will happen to the wicked. They will be as the fat that drips into the fire. They will make a hiss and be gone forever. God is a consuming fire and as they are exposed to that consuming fire, they will become as nothing.)

21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

(The wicked take and take without giving and the righteous are charitable.)

22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

(Even good people fall. They will not be cast completely down. God is there for us.)

25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

26He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

(God always blesses those who love Him and keep His ways.)

27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

(This is so simple. Leave evil alone, do good, and live forever with God.)

28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

(All wisdom comes from God. Wisdom was with God and is God.)

31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

(Heart is translated as mind. You know right from wrong and choose to do right.)

32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

(Satan wants to take as many souls from God as he possibly can.)

33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

(This is the third and final of the unique lines of this acrostic Psalm. We will be there to witness for ourselves the evil ones become as nothing before God. Though they may seem to get ahead, we will be there to see it as they become nothing.)

35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

(Anti-christ will be worshipped by nearly the whole world, save for God’s elect. He will stand in Jerusalem pretending to be Christ and he will pretend to be a great cedar of Lebanon but he is nothing but an old box cedar.)

36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

(Once the wicked are turned to ashes from within, making a hissing noise as they hit the fire, they become as smoke that rises forever and ever. When something burns, the smoke goes up. How far does it rise before you can’t see it anymore? It rises forever, we just can’t see it any longer.)

37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

(The literal perfect man is Christ. Peace is translated as a future. Mark Christ in your mind and do what is right before God and have a future. Those who do not, will have no future.)

38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

(God is our fortified defense. The trouble is the end time trouble. Never forget where your strength is.)

40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

(Never forget to trust in God. The wicked will not get ahead when it matters. Read verses 7, 20, and 34 together. Don’t worry about those who are getting ahead in this life by evil means for God is keeping track of all deeds. They will perish like the fat of the lamb and they will hiss and spit as they hit the fire and then become as smoke rising forever and ever, never to be seen again. Trust in God completely and He will exalt us to inherit the land and we will see the wicked being cut off. These are promises from God.)